New Chinese Robotaxi firm enters Europe as Waymo begins London tests

Europe is growing into the next battleground for autonomous vehicle technology, with Chinese robotaxi company Pony.ai announcing a major European entry just as U.S. rival Waymo begins laying the groundwork for driverless services in London.

Pony.ai partners with Stellantis for European rollout

Pony.ai, which operates the largest driverless fleet in China, announced a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with auto giant Stellantis to jointly develop and test SAE Level 4 (fully autonomous) robotaxi solutions in Europe.

Initial focus: The partnership will integrate Pony.ai’s autonomous driving software with the battery-electric version of Stellantis’ medium-sized van platform, starting with the Peugeot e-Traveller model.

• Testing Grounds: Real-world testing is set to begin in Luxembourg in the coming months, with plans for a gradual rollout across other European cities starting in 2026.

• Strategic Advantage: The move leverages Stellantis' strong European presence in light commercial vehicles LCVs and Pony.ai's proven technology, which has logged over 55 million autonomous kilometers worldwide.

Waymo’s London debut

The Pony.ai announcement comes on the heels of Waymo (Alphabet's self-driving division) confirming plans to bring its autonomous ride-hailing service to London, making the U.K. capital its first European city of operation.

• Phased launch: Waymo's initial phase involves bringing a small fleet of self-driving cars to London streets in the coming weeks, driven by human safety specialists, to begin mapping and safety validation.

• Commercial goal: The company aims to secure permissions to offer fully autonomous, driverless rides in London as early as 2026, aligning with the U.K. government’s accelerated pilot program for self-driving services.

• Local ties: Waymo will deploy all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and is partnering with fleet operations specialist Moove to manage the launch.

The two players entering Europe in succession highlight the continent’s shift in regulatory posture. After years of cautious restraint, it’s now opening its doors to self-driving technology, setting the stage for a fierce and complex race for market dominance.

Pony.ai will be joining fellow Chinese rivals WeRide and Baidu (Apollo Go), who are also aggressively expanding their international footprints. WeRide has launched robobus fleets in cities like Leuven, Belgium, and holds operation approvals in France and Switzerland. Baidu is currently in talks to launch trials for Apollo Go in Switzerland before the end of 2025.

Uber is also building its European presence through a patchwork of strategic partnerships, including an agreement with UK-based Wayve to trial services in London and a collaboration with Chinese firm Momenta to start testing in Munich, Germany, in 2026.